Sen. Conrad Burns Unveils "NexGenTen" an Agenda for Communications Reform and Security in the 21st Century

In a recent press conference, U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) announced his top priorities for his chairmanship of the Senate Communications Subcommittee during the 108th legislative session. The ten items, called the Burns NexGenTen Tech Agenda, aim to strengthen security and usher reform for 21st Century Communication.

(Many thanks to Betsy Allen of Sen. Burns’ staff for passing this along to the Roundtable- Russ)

The Burns NexGenTen will tackle three centerpiece issues before the summer through legislation and committee hearings and will address in full the remaining priorities midway this year. Sen. Burns hopes to gain support for each item on the NexGenTen by the end of 2003.

The Centerpiece Agenda

SPAM

Spectrum Reform

E-911

Priority Items

Broadband expensing

ICANN Reform

Wireless Privacy

Online Privacy

Universal Service Reform

Digital Democracy

US Asia Network

“We are in an age where the Internet and telecom industries are at a crossroads,” said Sen. Burns. “In this era of consolidation, terrorism, and rapid technological innovation, I intend to use this chairmanship of the Senate Communications Subcommittee to provide greater security and to shepherd much-needed reform for consumers.”

“This is a robust agenda, but also very realistic. We are already well underway in building a consensus within Committee that will lead to swift passage of many of these priorities. I am confident America will see the SPAM bill leave the Senate before the summer.”

“Spectrum reform is long-overdue and I am eager to devote the initial months of my chairmanship to the issue. In Europe we have witnessed how the system failed consumers, and we must avoid implementing a similarly exploitative process in the United States.”

“E-911 is also critical legislation. I am pleased Sen. Clinton is now co-Chair of the E-911 Caucus, lending her support as we work to create a national, unified emergency communication infrastructure.”

The timeline for action for the priority items of the NexGenTen is as follows:

Current Projects

SPAM

Spectrum Reform

E-911

Spring

ICANN Reform

Wireless Privacy

Online Privacy

Summer

U.S.-Asia Network

Broadband Expensing

Universal Service Reform

Fall

Digital Democracy

CAN-SPAM

STIMULATES THE ECONOMY BY SAVING AMERICAN BUSINESS UPWARDS OF $9 BILLION ANNUALY

Sen. Burns will re-introduce early in the session the Burns-Wyden CAN-SPAM bill, which passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce Committee last May. The bill requires senders of unsolicited commercial email to provide an easy “unsubscribe” option for consumers and imposes harsh penalties on transgressors who falsify information to mask the origins of the sender.

Senator Burns has recently cited that SPAM costs American business almost $9 billion every year. Left unchecked, SPAM may be the Trojan Horse for e-commerce, chasing off users frustrated with the deluge of email.

Spectrum Management Reform

MODERNIZES AND TRANSFORMS A PREVIOUSLY EXPLOITIVE AND ARCANE FRAMEWORK INTO A REASONABLE MODEL TO BENEFIT CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES.

Sen. Burns is committed to moving away from the failed current auction model, which has resulted in numerous bankruptcies at companies and failed promises for consumers.

Sen. Burns will examine potentially revolutionary ideas, such as using a royalty based approach. Sen. Burns will work on a draft bill as soon as the second half of the GAO report is released at the end of this month dealing with the experiences of other countries.

E- 911

IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY BY OFFERING TECHNOLOGY TO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND ALLOWING THEM TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF A WIRELESS USER WHEN CALLING 911.

Sen. Burns’ E-911 bill mandated 911 as a universal wireless emergency number. This is a top priority in the NexGenTen given the “life-or-death” nature of the issue. Sen. Burns will fight to ensure rapid deployment of E-911 technologies, addressing PSAP readiness, and the lack of a unified funding structure in addition to carrier action on meeting E-911 mandates.

Sen. Burns will work with the Co-Chair of the E-911 Caucus, Sen. Clinton, to promote a universal, nationwide public safety communications infrastructure. The kickoff of the E-911 Caucus is scheduled for February 24th.

ICANN Reform

STRENGTHENS AND SECURES THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE INTERNET

Sen. Burns will take aim at the organization’s persistent half-hearted efforts at internal reform. The lack of accountability of this quasi-governmental organization poses serious problems for American national security. The recent “denial of service” (DOS) attack on nine of the 13 Internet “root servers” in October highlights these concerns. Constitutional issues are also troubling, including whether the Commerce Department was within its rights to grant such a huge responsibility to ICANN in the first place, potentially violating the “nondelegation” clause.

This issue demands immediate oversight. Sen. Burns will hold a hearing on ICANN Reform in the spring to address potential legislation to authorize ICANN’s continued existence.

Wireless Privacy

GUARANTEES PERSONAL PRIVACY IN THE WIRELESS ENVIRONMENT

As more and more citizens use wireless phones as their primary communications device, the phenomenon of scanners being used to eavesdrop and record conversations presents serious privacy implications. The Burns-Wyden bill will prohibit bad actors from using scanners or other technologies to eavesdrop on wireless callers without their knowledge.

Online Privacy

SAFEGUARDS VITAL PERSONAL DATA FROM TERRORISTS, THEFT, AND MARKETERS

The author of the first-ever comprehensive online privacy bill, Sen. Burns will continue to support strong protections for consumers in the digital environment. Sen. Burns plans to support the online privacy bill that passed out of the Commerce Committee last year. That plan adopts a “two-tiered” approach, requiring an opt-in consent for sensitive information and opt-out for everything else. The bill also preempts inconsistent state laws or regulations.

U.S.-Asia Network

PROMOTES FREE-TRADE BETWEEN AMERICA AND ASIA

USHERS DIGITAL EQUALITY AND A MORE ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUTURE TO ASIA, ENABLING AT-RISK NATIONS TO MORE FULLY COMMITT THEMSELVES TO COMBATING TERRORISM

Asia is a region full of economic potential, and has the ability to create jobs dealing with American export products. Sen. Burns will continue to foster these opportunities to use the expansion of global markets.

The focus of the U.S.-Asia Network will be to make sure that American technology products can compete on a level playing field in foreign markets. Support will go to a Technology Neutrality Initiative, which will address the problem of national government favoritism for domestic technologies. A multi-lateral process will eliminate government policies that impair international commerce and reduce consumer choice. Elimination of national government favoritism for domestic technologies will promote mutual economic growth, increase trade and investment, and expand consumer choice in the Asia-Pacific region.

Broadband Expensing

BRINGS HIGH-SPEED INTERNET ACCESS TO RURAL AMERICA

Sen. Burns has introduced legislation with Sen. Baucus that provides tax incentives to business that invest in broadband, with a focus on accelerating the deployment of high-speed Internet access across the country, especially in rural America. The broadband bill creates a temporary tax incentive for providers in the form of “expensing,” allowing an immediate deduction of a capital expenditure in the first year of service rather than depreciating that investment over time.

In the case of “current generation” broadband investments in rural and underserved areas, the bill would allow 50% expensing of the investment, with the rest to be depreciated according to normal depreciation schedules. When providers build out “next generation” broadband networks, which are typically more expensive, the bill would provide for 100% expensing.

Universal Service Reform

ENSURES AFFORDABLE TELECOM SERVICE TO RURAL CONSUMERS

Sen. Burns will continue to firmly support a solvent and stable Universal Service Fund that sustains consumers in rural America through the availability of high-quality and affordable telecommunications service.

However, significant reforms to the universal service contribution system are needed for rural consumers. Sen. Burns’ initiatives in Universal Service reform will be guided by the support of the of the following principles:

• To ensure the stability and sustainability of the universal service fund

• To ensure that contributors are assessed in an equitable and nondiscriminatory manner.

• To minimize the regulatory costs associated with complying with universal service obligations.

• To develop a contribution recovery process that is fair and readily understood by consumers.

Digital Democracy

BRINGS GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE

Sen. Burns held Congress’ first interactive, online hearing on June 12, 1996. Seven years later, Sen. Burns plans provide for a coordinated effort to make the legislative process available to citizens over the Internet through cybercasts and online documents.

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